Dial illuminating system for clocks



Oct- 24, 1967 w F. KOLQDZIEJ ET AL 3,349,235

DIAL ILLUMINATING SYSTEM FOR CLOCKS Original Filed July 20, 1965 BXOXMQJ United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An economical dial illuminating assembly for spring wound clocks in which a few, easily formed, metal parts define a battery holder, a light bulb holder, a light reflector, and a reliable switch that functions to illuminate the dial when the clock is lifted or tilted.

Description of the invention This application is a continuation of our application Ser. No. 473,435, filed July 20; 1965, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to time displaying clocks and more particularly concerns a clock face illuminating arrangement.

Synchronous motor driven clocks deriving power from a standard 110 volt A.-C. outlet are often provided with dial lights energized by the same current supplied to the motor. Spring wound clocks are, however, still popular and in widespread use, primarily because of their low cost and portability. Heretofore, it has been diflicult to provide spring wound clocks with the advantage of dial lighting without obviating the features of low cost and portability which make such clocks attractive.

Accordingly, the primary aim of the invention is to provide a portable and low cost dial lighting arrangement suitable for a spring wound clock.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a trouble-free construction of the above character embodying a reliable, tilt responsive switch.

Another object is to provide a dial lighting arrangement as described above that economically derives power from a small primary or dry cell battery.

A further object is to provide an arrangement of the above type that produces relatively even light of suitable intensity from a small, low powered incandescent bulb.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a clock embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan of the base portion of the clock illustrated in FIG. 1 as seen when the upper clock housing has been removed; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 33 in FIG. 2.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that we do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, we intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a clock embodying the invention and including a base 11 adapted to rest on a supporting surface and an upper housing 12 on which the usual time displaying face 13 is mounted. The clock face 13 includes a lens 14 covering a dial 15 that bears the usual indicia 16 over which a stack of hands 17 rotate as driven by the clock mechanism, not shown, in the housing 12. The clock mechanism may be of the spring wound type.

3,349,235 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 Pursuant to the invention, the base 11 is hollow, is releasably engaged with the housing 12, and contains the dial illuminating assembly of the invention. Preferably, the base 11 is styled to complement the housing 12 and is formed with internal, upwardly projecting lugs 21. The housing 12 has downwardly projecting flanges 22 at each side which fit into the open top of the base 11 and a pair of holes 23 into which the lugs 21 snap. The resilient engagement of the lugs 21 within the holes 23 releasably secures the base 11 onto the housing 12 so that the parts remain in normal firm engagement while permitting ready separation for access to the lighting assembly.

Mounted within the base 11 is a reflector 30, adapted to support an incandescent bulb 31, and a battery holder 32 proportioned to support a battery 33 which, in this case, is a small pencell or size AA cell. As a feature of the invention, the reflector 30 and the battery holder 32 are formed of economical sheet metal pieces which can be easily cut, formed and installed. In the illustrate-d construction, the reflector 30 is formed with a pair of upwardly extending fingers 34 which grip to support, and establish an electrical connection with, the bulb 31. The reflector 30 also includes a curved portion 35 adapted to reflect light from the bulb 31 up through the lens 14 onto the dial 15. Preferably, the reflector 30 is formed of plated or polished metal to increase its reflecting elficiency, and the lens 14 is formed with a lower flange 36 having a grooved diffusing surface to assist in equalizing the light distribution across the dial 13.

The battery holder 32 includes a first member 37 having a battery pole contact flange 3S and an arm 39- bent to engage the tip contact of the bulb 31, and a second member 40 having a battery pole contact flange 41 opposing the flange 38 and an arm 42 extending toward the reflector 30. The arm 42, in the illustrated construction, defines an operating element of a switch that is effective to electrically couple the bulb 31 and the battery 33.

In accordance with the invention, the arm 42 has a portion 43 resiliently projecting through an opening 44 in the bottom front portion of the base 11 so as to engage a supporting surface on which the clock 10 is placed. The weight of the clock 10 is greater than the resilient force exerted by the arm 42 so that resting the clock on a flat surface forces the arm portion 43 upwardly and holds the arm 42 in the dashed line position illustrated in FIG. 3 spaced from, and out of engagement with, the reflector 30. With the clock so supported, a slight tilting of the clock rearwardly releases the portion 43 and allows the arm 42 to assume its solid line position shown in FIG. 3 bringing it into contact with the reflector 30. This completes a circuit between the bulb 31 and the battery 32 so as to energize the bulb.

As will be apparent, only a light rearward tilting of the clock 10 is required to illuminate the dial face. With the clock standing normally, the bulb 31 is not illuminated and there is no drain on the battery 33. However, the user of the clock need only rock the clock slightly backward to cause the bulb 31 to become energized so as to illuminate the dial.

Preferably, the arm 42 is an integral portion of the battery holder member 40, being bent to define the portion 43, and having an end 45 which engages the reflector 30 angled with respect to the edge of the reflector. The switch-contact defining end 45 of the battery holder arm 42 thus engages a sharp edge of the reflector 30 to facilitate good electrical contact and positive switching action.

Those familiar with this art will appreciate that the assembly described above is particularly economical to construct since the parts utilized are easily formed and readily assembled. The long reflector portion 35 of the reflector 30 provides good light distribution from the bulb 31. The lighting assembly is also quite compact. Portability is achieved, of course, by the use of battery power for energizing the bulb.

We claim as our invention: 7 1. An assembly for illuminating a face comprising, in combination, a base attached to said face, a reflector mounted in said base having an electrically conductive bulb engaging portion and a reflecting surface for directing light from a bulb engaged by said portion toward said face, a battery holder mounted in said base having one battery pole contact in electrical contact with a bulb in said portion and a second battery pole contact with a switch arm extended towards said reflector, said base having an opening underlying said second switch arm, said switch arm being resiliently urged into circuit making engagement with said bulb engaging portion, and said switch arm also having a portion extending through said opening so that engagement of said base with a supporting surface deflects said switch arm and opens said circuit.

2. An assembly forilluminating a face comprising, in combination, a base adapted for releasable engagement with said face, an electrically conductive reflector mounted in said base having a pair of bulb engaging fingers and a curved reflecting surface for directing light from a bulb supported by said fingers toward said face, a battery holder mounted in said base having one battery pole contact with an arm positioned to engage a bulb in said fingers and a second battery pole contact with an arm extended towards said reflector, said base having an opening underlying said second contact arm, said second contact arm being resilient and urged into circuit making engagement with said reflector, and said second contact arm also having a portion extending through said opening so that engagement of said base with a supporting surface deflects said second contact arm and opens said circuit. 7

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said reflector has a sharp edged periphery and said second contact arm has an inclined portion which resiliently engages said sharp edge.

4. The combination of claim 2 in which said battery holder arm is in an integral switch arm, and said reflector has a switch contact portion against which the arm moves during said circuit making engagement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,084,050 6/1937 Van Bloom 240-2.1 2,895,038 7/1959 Whiston 2402.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 843,237 3/1939 France.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. DAVID L. JACOBSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ASSEMBLY FOR ILLUMINATING A FACE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE ATTACHED TO SAID FACE, A REFLECTOR MOUNTED IN SAID BASE HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE BULB ENGAGING PORTION AND A REFLECTING SURFACE FOR DIRECTING LIGHT FROM A BULB ENGAGED BY SAID PORTION TOWARD SAID FACE, A BATTERY HOLDER MOUNTED IN SAID BASE HAVING ONE BATTERY POLE CONTACT IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH A BULB IN SAID PORTION AND A SECOND BATTERY POLE CONTACT WITH A SWITCH ARM EXTENDED TOWARDS SAID REFLECTOR, SAID BASE HAVING AN OPENING UNDERLYING SAID SECOND SWITCH ARM, SAID SWITCH ARM BEING RESILIENTLY URGED INTO CIRCUIT MAKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BULB ENGAGING PORTION, AND SAID SWITCH ARM ALSO HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING SO THAT ENGAGEMENT OF SAID BASE WITH A SUPPORTING SURFACE DEFLECTS SAID SWITCH ARM AND OPENS SAID CIRCUIT. 